Controller for automatic telephone systems.



PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

A. E. STEVENS. CONTROLLER FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. 1905.

3 SHBETS- SHEET 1.

IrIrL INVENTOR ATTORNEY PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

A. E. STEVENS. V CONTROLLER FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 QW at Raw Rx Q Q WK F WITNESSES: Z T MQ ATTORNEY No.816,948. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906. A. E. STEVENS.

CONTROLLER FOR AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEMS.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY12. 1905.'

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CONTROLLER FOR AUTOMATI 'TELEPHUNE SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

. Application and July 12.1905. Seria11io.269.429.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AL'roN F. Srnvnns, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of.Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Controller forAutomatic Telephone Systems, of which the following is a upon removal ofreceiver from its hook bring one line-wire into" momentary connectionwith ground, which upon operating a numbered member in the mannerprovided will automatically cause one line-wire to be brought intomomentary connection with ground a number of times in succession, thenumber of contacts corresponding with the number of the member operated,and after 1 each series of connections will cause a final momentaryconnection between the other line-wire and ground and which will u onreplacing receiver on its hook cause bot wires to be pressed togetherand brought into momentary connection with groun The objects of myinvention are, first, to use keys or push-buttons in place of the usualdial or indicator, said keys or push-buttons being more convenient tooperate; second, to provide a controller in whichall the keys or pushbuttons have a uniform movement; third, to provide a controller withparts easily detached for repair or re lacing;.fourth, to provide acontroller in WhlGh the lar est possible size of number can be used on te'numbered members, thus reducing liability to mistake in o crating.

I accomp ish my objects by mechanism illustrated in the drawings.

Figure 1 represents a lan of controller. Fig. 2 represents a dplan o aspeed-governor. Fig. 3 is a right si e elevation of controller. Fig. 4is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 5

'is a left side elevation showing circuit-springs and frame. Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic representation of the circuits.

In the drawings illustrating the principles of my invention and the bestmode now each of the pointsof strips 21 22 known to me of employing thesame, 1 2 3 I 5 6 7 8 9 0 11 in Fig. 1 are numbered keys, (shown inelevation at 1 6, Fig. 3.) They are metal stampingsand fit into slots ofthe proper width in a rockerlate 1-3, each having a rocking bearing on te bottom of its respective slot, as at 75,- Fi s. 1, 3. A facep ate 12,Figs. 1, 3,is slotte to allow afree upand-down movement of the keys andis secured to rocker-plate '13 by screws and nuts 14 15. Acontroller-frame 16 supports its several parts. A selector-frame 18carries at its extremity a wheel 26, which engages a cam 23, fast toshaft 25. This frame 18 is hinged to giece 19 by screw-bearings 20. Saidpiece 19, ig. 3, also serves to preventthe keys from leaving y theirslots. A thin strip 0 metal 21 is provided with, say, elevencontact-points,

such as 56, which are insulated from all other parts by insulahas onepoint only. The cam 23, Figs. 1, 3, 4., is engaged by wheel 26 upon theselectorframe 18, which when moved vertically b action of any one of thekeys causes the she 25 to turn, the extreme limit of the turning beinabout ninety degrees, the contact-arm 27, ig. 1, hence being brou ht toosition shown in dotted lines'at 37, Fig. 1. ecured to the shaft 25 byfriction is a flat s ring 24, the shaft being allowed to turn free whilethe movement of the s ring is limited by screws 30 31', Fig. 1.- he,shaft 25has its lower bearing in frame 16 and its upper bearing in adetachable piece 32. Carried by this shaft is a contact-arm-27, a gear1.7, the contact-spring 24, the cam 23, and a 67 Figs. 3, 4. A s iralspring 68, secure to pin 71, always ten to normal position. Thecontact-arm 27,

tion 39. Strip 22 is similar to 21, except it 7 s to move the shaft 25back Figs. 3, 4, consists of two stri s ofasprin.

metal, which uponcoming in contact w1t contact the top and bottom of it.A hookswitch 28 sup orts a telephone-receiver. It is secured to ame byscrew 29 upon which it turns, its up and down movements being. limitedby a metal strap 33, Figs. 1, 5. removal of receiver it is moved upwardb spring 71), secured to frame by screw 69. t carries a plece replacedupon cam 23 and causes shaft 25 to turn-back ward slightly until arm 27occupies position showri in dotted lines at 38, Fig. 1. Hook separateand IOO Upon v 77, which when the receiver is the hook engagesa pin 59in springs 79 80 82, Figs. 4', 5, 6, are operated by hook-switch 28,which engages insulation 81 when the hook is in'extreme upper position,and springs 88. 89 are operated by said I hook 28 engaging insulation 87when-the I hook is in extreme lower position.

A s ring 62, Fig. 3, is secured to piece 19, there eing one'for eachkeyfor the purpose of holding it in normalposition or of returning it tonormal position, the extreme movements of the keys being limited bypoints 74 engaging the under sideof frame 64. 63, Figs. 3, 4, is a lockand prevents keys from being operated when shaft 25 is out of normalposition. When the shaft is in normal position, pin 67 engages pin 66andlock'63 is moved out of engagement with points 74, said lock beingcontained in frame 64, hinged at'78 and held in engagement with points74 by s ring 65. Q

T e dotted lines between 72 73 show the different lengths of extensionsof the keys, the number selected de ending upon the length of theextension of the key operated, as will later more fully appear. 190 is arepresentation of the extreme end of 19, Fig. 3, the piece 19 beingrounding, and the part to which the selector-frame 18 is hinged.

2, 3) is provided with a gear-wheel 41 an a ratchet-wheel 42, the 'two'being in one iece and having free movement around sha t 43.

A disk 40 is fast upon the shaft and has mounted thereon a pawl 44,which is held in engagement with ratchet 43 by spring 49. Two arms 45,having weights 46 at their extreme ends, are so moved by'the centrifugalforce upon rotation of. disk 40 that shoes 47 are brought into contactwith a friction-disk 48, fixed to frame 61, the friction retarding therotation. The governor 34 being mounted in the frame 61,- it is with itsframe selfwed e on spring' 51 and 54 being a support for ame 52. 58,Fig. 1, is a support for ground-screw 31. A push-button 93, Fig. 6,operates thes rings 90 91 92 and is not shown in the other icalconnection with the controller and may beplaced in any convenient placeon tele- A speed-governor 34 (best shown in Fi s,

rawmgs, as it has 'no mechan-' phone. It is used to signal 9. calledparty; g0 represents the woodwork of the telephoneox. Havin tion, Iw'now explain its mechanical action.

Normally with receiver on the hook, 77 has engaged pin 59 and movedshaft into such po- 81131011131131; contact-arm 27 is in osition 38,Fig. 1, and spring 24is in contact with screw 30. Upon removal ofreceiver, 77 disengages pin 53and allows spring 68 to turn shaft andbring ,sp i 24 into contact with ground-screw 31, w 'ch is insulatedfrom frame, the effect explained the parts. of my invenbeing to groundthe shaft,.and consequently.

contact-arm 27, which moves across point 57, thereby cont'actin andgrounding same during its assage. in 67 engages pin 66, Figs. 3, 4,ansmoves lock 63 out of engagement with pointsof keys 74. Keys are nowunlocked.

and can be depressed to cause operation of the exchange mechanism.Suppose we depress key 11, which is used as a long-distance call.

Its extension engages selecting-frame 18 at 72 and select' -frame 18islifted until point 7 4is stopped byt e under side of top of lock-frame64. 'Wheel 26 is caused to roll up the inclined face of the cam 23,which turns and moves the shaft 25 to the limit of its movement, 11being the largest number. brings contact-arm 27 into position 37 Fig. 1.Although in moving to this position arm 27 has made contact with point57 and each of the points 56 of the strip 21, this has no electricaleflect, because upon the start of movement the sprin 24- hasbeen causedby its friction on the s aft 25' to break from ground.- screw 31 andrest against screw 30. When shaft 25 is moved from normal position, lock63 engages remainder of keys, and thus allows only one key to beoperated at a time, which key upon being returned to normal position byspring 62 forces out lock 63 and thenimmedlately allows the lock toreturn, thus locking all of the keys until the shaft 25 has returned tonormal 7 fposition. Upon release of depressed key the ame 18 drops backto nor- This roo

mal position, frees cam 23, and spring 68 'returns shaft to normalposition, carrying the arm 27 into contact successively with each ofthe'points on strip 21, thus, as has been ex plained, grounding 21,which is connected direct to a line-wire, eleven times, and finallycontacting 57,which at this time isconnected to the other line-wire. Theextension on key lends at 73, so if this key should be depressed theselector-frame 18 would not be moved until 73 had reached said frame,and as the key could be de ressed but slightly farther the wheel 26 Wou(1 only move up the face of the cam 23 but slightly, nd arm 27, .liig.1, would move to a position etween the first and second points'on thestrip 21. Upon its return the arm would contact one point only andfinallyviz. point 57. As before expla1ned,'the difference in length ofthe extension of the keys between 72 73, Fig. 3, deter mines thedistance that the selecting-frame 18 will be raised, and consequentlythe distance the shaft and arm 27 will be turned. When the shaft 2'5leaves normal position, the gear 17 engages the gear 41, Fig. 2, thepawl 44 allowing the latter to turn without turning the governor. U onreturn of shaft toward normal position, owever, the pawl 44 engagesratchet 42 and causes the governor to revo ve and govern speed ofreturn, the centrifu a1 force throwing out arms 45 and causing t e shoes47 to engage the friction-disk 48 to a greater or less extent. In normalposition extension 53 of gear 17 holds spring 50 in contact with spring51.

Having described the mechanical operation of my invention, I will nowdescribe its electrical functions.

Referring to Fig. 6, a party to call this station causes in a well-knownway si nalin current to flow over wires 101 102, t e on y closed pathbeing from Wire 101, strip 21, through ringer 100, s rings 89 88, towire 102. When receiver is on ook, arm 27 is in position 38 and s ring24 is out of contact with 31. When, iiowever, receiver is removed fromthe hook, arm 27 is moved toward normal position, contacting the point22, while 24 is brought into contact with 3'1. This closes a circuitmomentarily from wire 101 through strip 21, springs 82 80, point 22, arm27, spring 24, point 31, to ground 94, i which causes central-officemechanism to move into position to receive selective impulses. At thebeginning of the upwardi'novement of hook after receiver is removed thesprings 88 89 are allowed to break contact, and at the finish of themovement spring breaks contact with spring 82 and contacts sprin 79. The

' calling party now presses down a ey, which causes arm 27 to move backover point 22,

and points of strip 21, the distance depending on which key is operated.This backward movement causes spring 24 to break contact with spring 31.As the key is released and arm 27 starts toward normal position againthe arm contacts as many points of 21 as it has moved over during itsbackward move-- ment and establishes a circuit from line 101, throughstrip 21, arm 27, spring 24, oint 31, to ground 94 as many times as tere are points with which to contact, a final contact icing made fromline 102, through springs 79 80, point 22, arm 27, spring 24, point 3l,to ground 94. As arm 27 starts from normal position it allows springs 5051 to break contact. At the completion of a call, button 93 is operatedand causes spring 91 to break contact with spring 92 and make contactwith spring thus completing a signaling-circuit from wire 101, throughstrip 21, spring 91, spring 90, to ground 94. Common transmitter-batteryis now applied to lines 101 102 from central station through thefollowing the ringer in common-battery te circuit: from 101", throughstrip 21, springs 91 92, primary winding of induction-coil 96,transmitter 97, springs 50 51, to line 102. Conversation can now 'becarried on, 98 representing the secondary Winding of the induction-coil,and 99 the receiver. Re lacing receiver causes sprin s 83 84 85 to epressed momentarily' toget er, thus connecting lines 101 102 to groundat 95, which causes by suitable mechanism restoration of central-officeapparatus. Spring 80 is allowed to come back into contact with "spring82, spring 88 is brought into contact with spring 89, arm 27 is moved toosition 38, and spring 24 breaks from roun -screw 31.

In ne, by means of my invention 1 have provided a controller compact inform and convenient to operate, having keys that have a-uniformmovement, having parts accessible, easily detached and assembled, andhaving on its keys numbers the size of which is such that the canbe'easily seen, and thus reducing the liability to mistake in operatingthe keys, and, further, the shape of the controller is such that themechanism may be conveniently placed under the'shelf of a telephone inthe position commonly occupied by ephones, thus economizin space.

.What I c aim is 1. A shaft; a cam mounted thereon; a contact-arm aseries of contacts with which the contact-arm may be moved successivelyinto engagement; a series of manually-oper- .ated parts operativelyconnected with said cam, whereby said contact-arm may be moved intoengagement with one or more of said series of contacts.

2. Ashaft; acontact-armfixed thereon; a cam fixed to said shaft; apivoted member enga in said cam; a series of parts, any one of w ic maybe moved into engagement with, and move said pivoted member, all beingsodesi ned that each part moves said member a ifierent amount and causes acorresponding difference in the movement of the cam, shaft, andcontact-arm.

3. A shaft; a contact-arm fixed thereto; a cam mounted thereon; apivoted member engagin the cam; a series of levers to engage an movesaid pivoted member.

4. A shaft; a contact-arm fixed thereto; a cam'fixed to said shaft; apivoted member engaging the earn; a series of levers, all of whic arecapable of'equal movements, and each of said levers having an extensionthereon differing in length from that of any other, and engaging saidpivoted member, whereby the pivoted member, cam, and shaft may give tothe contact-arm movements of corresponding lengths.

5. A shaft; a contact-arm fixed thereto; a series of levers havinguniform movements, and pgovided with extensions of different lengt meansoperatively connected with extensions on sai levers, where a fullmovement of any lever will cause t 'e' shaft,- and hence thecontact-arm,- to move as distance peculiar to the lever moved, butdiffer ent from that peculiar to another fever.-

6. A shaft; a gear fixed t 'ereto, i'n e-ombination with a governor,which comprises a gear, meshin with said gear fixed to the shaft; 8;I&t(3%let-Whe6l integral with gear, and loose on the shaft; a disk fastto said shaft; a pawl pivoted to said disk arms pivoted to said disk,and rovide'd with shoes to engage a friction-disk ast to the governorframe; all bein designed to regulate the said shaft, and desi ed to beeager-i? by the speed with who the shaft moves in one direction, and toprovide a regulator which is self-contained.-

7. A series of levers; a shaft; a lock-bar in locking engagement withsaid levers; a hooklever; means whereby a movement of said lever causesthe lock to become disengaged from said levers, and leaves each one freeto: be operated; means whereby a movement of the shaft out of its normalposition, caused by a movement of any one of the levers, causes the lockagain to look all of the other levers; and permits the used lever, onits return to normal position, to become locked also. a

8. In a controller, a shaft provided with a metal contact-arm; a metalpiece loosely mounted upon the shaft, but in frictional engagement withthe shaft; two points, be-

provided with means whereby the mechanism of said governor may beadjusted and secured in engagement with said gear on the shaft. 7

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature presence of two witnesses.

ALTON E. STEVENS. Witnesses:

MARY R. Hour, JAMES H. KENYON, Jr.

